Women's football

The

Daily Citizen SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2011

SPORTS

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP Rose Bud wins Greers Ferry Lake Classic

couple of days following the loss to Sacred Heart in the first round of the tournament.

Rose Bud’s varsity girls bas- He hopes his girls’ play will ketball team, 12-1, defeated transition into the conference Mount Vernon-Enola Friday season beginning next week. night, 59-49, to take first Riley Rose led Harding place in the Greers Ferry Lake Academy with 19 points and 7 Classic in steals, Kristen Lester scored Pangburn.

13 points and Lynley Crowell Behind for put up 11 points. much of the The Lady Wildcats return first quarter, to action Tuesday when they the Lady hit the road to face Brinkley Ramblers in their conference opener. found a 23-21 lead in the Games start at 4:30 p.m. second with only 1:40 left in

the half. Rose Bud extended Beebe takes third place the lead slowly in the second in home tourney half, getting up by 10 points with 5:15 left in the game.

Beebe’s varsity girls basMount Vernon-Enola tried to ketball team, 9-3, took third foul late in the game, but the place in the Gillam Farms/ Lady Ramblers shot well from First Security Bank Tournathe free throw line and held ment Friday afternoon with a the lead.

50-30 win over Sacred Heart.

Head Coach Mandy GoodUp 27win said the Mount Vernon11 at Enola’s offensive rebounds halftime, were the only thing that kept the Lady the Lady Warhawks in the Badgers game. Rose Bud was outcombined rebounded 17-10 in the first strong half, but, in the end, Goodwin defense said holding Mount Vernonand potent Enola to only 49 points was offense to good for her team going forcontinue ward. extendTori Willborg led Rose Bud ing the lead by about 6 points with 18 points, while Lauren each quarter. Head Coach Wynne put up 15 points.

Greg Richey said his team did The Lady Ramblers will trav- a great job using their size adel to Riverview Tuesday, with vantage to defend in the paint. games starting at 5 p.m.

Angelina Williams led Beebe with 25 points, Kalela Miller put up 14 points and Jamie Wildcats win over Jackson added 6 points.

Lonoke, 45-35 The Lady Badgers will travel Harding Academy’s varsity to Little Rock Christian Monboys basketball team, 8-6, day night with games starting took third place in Beebe’s at 5 p.m.

Gillam Farms/First Security

Bank Tournament Friday eveRiverview boys win ning with a 44-35 win over Carlisle Tournament Lonoke.

The WildRiverview’s varsity boys cats jumped basketball team, 4-7, defeatto an early ed Carlisle 60-50 Thursday lead, 16-10 night to take first place in the at the end of Carlisle Tournament. the first, and The Raidheld the advantage throughers went out the game. Harding Acaddown early emy outscored Lonoke by 5 in the game, points in the fourth quarter, but picked getting some easy layups to up their play extend the scoreline and nab and pulled back to within one the 10-point win. possession at the end of Will Francis led Harding the first quarter. From there, Academy with 17 points and Riverview seized control of the seven rebounds. Tom Gould game, switching up defenses put up 13 points in the thirdto keep Carlisle on its toes place game. and from getting comfortable.

The Lady Wildcats return The Raiders led by 7 points to action Tuesday when they at halftime, then held a hit the road to face Brinkley 10-point lead for much of the in their conference opener. second half, except for a couGames start at 4:30 p.m. ple minutes in the third quarter when Carlisle hit back-toHarding Academy downs back 3-pointers. Shortly after, Chris Johnson and Sidney Lonoke, 60-35 Owens each knocked down 3-pointers to extend the lead Harding Academy’s varsity back to 10. girls basketball team, 7-5, Head Coach Jon Laffoon took fifth place in Beebe’s Gillam Farms/First Security said he is proud of his team’s Bank Tournament Friday after- ability to recognize defensive switches. noon with a 60-35 win over Desmond Pettis led the Lonoke.

Raiders with 20 points, Isaac The Lady Wildcats worked Howard put up 17 points, the full-court press for most Johnson scored 13 points and of the first half, building up Owens netted 8 points. a 46-17 lead to take into the break. Head Coach Rusty Riverview returns to action Garner said the team played Tuesday, when they host Rose extremely well the past Bud with games starting at 5 p.m.

Local women hit gridiron Women living their dreams in Little Rock league

BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com

Football is a mainstay in White County, and it’s not just the boys donning the pads anymore.

Thanks to the nearly 60-teamstrong Women’s Football Alli-

petitive tackle football.

Jennifer Dennler, the first of the women to hear about the team, said she has wanted to play football since she was a child.

“Since I was a kid I always wanted to play football, but since I was a girl, that created some problems,” she said. “I ance and the Little Rock-based went to open tryouts [for the Arkansas Wildcats, three White Wildcats in the spring], and a County women have the opportunity to suit up and play comPlease see WFA | 3B

ROSE BUD WINS PANGBURN TOURNEY

Rose Bud’s Alexis Jackson, above, puts up a shot as she gets fouled by a MountVernon-Enola player during the Lady Ramblers’ 59-19 championship victory over the Lady Warhawks Friday night. Rose Bud will travel to Riverview Tuesday, with games starting at 5 p.m Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@thedailycitizen. com

Lady Rambler Kyndel Martin, left, just after splitting the seam between two Mount Vernon-Enola defensers, prepares to put in a layup during Rose Bud’s 59-19 championship victory over the Lady Warhawks Friday night.

Two senior teams tie in 2011 season closer The Daily Citizen

The Course at Rivers Oaks Senior Members Golf Association’s tournament played Wednesday in the finale for 2011.

Wet conditions, which resulted in adjusted tees and a short course, made for an interesting winter tournament.

Two teams tied for first place with a 9-under par 62. Team No. 1 included David Martin, R.D. Causey, Jack Boustead, Don Baugh and Lavern Richey.

Team No. 2 was Wendell Dil-

lard, Wayne Blickenstaff, Ferrell Stokes, Moe Hinnekamp and Tom Howard.

The third place team, with a 66 score, inclulded George Austin, Bob Puckett, Charlie Hill and Mike Roberts.

Closest to the pin results for the tournament were: hole No. 5, David Martin; hole No. 8, Moe Hinnekamp; hole No. 11, George Austin; hole No. 13, Sid Tate and hole No. 14, Wayland Holloway.

The next senior members’ tournament will be Wednesday.

SECTION B Sports Editor Kyle Troutman 501-268-8621 ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com

Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@thedailycitizen. com

Harding women drop Florida opener

BY NATHAN LOONEY Special to The Daily Citizen

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Harding women’s basketball team fell to Texas Woman’s 52-62 on Friday in the opening round of the West Florida Classic.

The loss snaps a four-game winning streak by the Lady Bisons.

After trailing by 12 in the middle of the second half, the Lady Bisons (6-3) rallied to pull

within five with 2:52 remaining on two field goals and three free throws. Harding then went 0-for-3 in the closing minutes as the Pioneers hit two layups and made four free throws to seal the victory.

Texas Woman’s held the Lady Bisons to shooting 30.9 percent from the field (17-of55) and 22 percent from behind Please see BISONS | 2B

The Daily Citizen

Saturday, December 31, 2011 • Page 3B

SPORTS

Anderson’s return tops Arkansas sports stories

BY KURT VOIGT Associated Press

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Mike Anderson’s heart never truly left Arkansas.

And when a struggling Razorbacks basketball program called in 2011, Anderson listened to his heart and returned to the place he called home.

Anderson was hired away from Missouri as Arkansas’ new coach in March to succeed the fired John Pelphrey.

As an assistant for 17 seasons under former coach Nolan Richardson, Anderson was a part of the golden days of Razorbacks basketball, highlighted by the 1994 national championship.

Arkansas had fallen on hard times since Richardson’s firing in 2002, reaching the NCAA Tournament just three times while attendance at Bud Walton Arena fell from an average of 20,134 during that national championship season to an all-time low of 12,022 in Pelphrey’s last season.

Enter Anderson, lured back to Arkansas by athletic director Jeff Long to bring back the tradition of winning. Long did so with a seven-year, $2.2-million annual contract while Anderson made it clear he had no interest in other jobs.

“Under Mike’s leadership, I am confident the Razorbacks will be successful in the future on and off the court,” Long said. “The decision to hire Mike Anderson as head coach is based on my firm belief that he is the right person to lead the Razorback program today and in the years to come.”

An estimated 5,000 Arkansas fans welcomed Anderson home when he was introduced in Bud Walton Arena. The show of support was equaled Anderson’s relief in returning after coaching stops at Alabama-Birmingham and with the Tigers.

“I’m happy to be back,” Anderson said. “This is home, this is home for Mike Anderson.”

The question, now, is how soon can Anderson lead Arkansas to the NCAA Tournament — and make an impact once there?

Especially when it was another state school, Arkansas-Little Rock, that reached the tournament this year for the first time in 21 seasons after a surprising run through the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Hot Springs.

The Razorbacks were 69-59 in four seasons under Pelphrey, though the former coach did put together one of the top recruiting classes in the

“Under Mike’s (Anderson) leadership, I am confident the Razorbacks will be successful in the future on and off the court.”

Jeff Long Arkansas athletic director country before his firing.

Anderson managed to keep that class together after he arrived, and the four highly touted freshmen (Hunter Mickelson, BJ Young, Ky Madden and Devonta Abron) have played a significant role as Arkansas opened with a 9-3 record under their new coach.

Football also dominated headlines for much of the year — across the state.

Arkansas lost to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl in January, then lost quarterback Ryan Mallett when he left after his junior season and was drafted by the NFL’s New England Patriots.

That didn’t slow the Razorbacks and coach Bobby Petrino, who entered the 2011 season by encouraging talk of Southeastern Conference and national championships with junior quarterback Tyler Wilson taking over as the starter.

Wilson’s performance didn’t disappoint, he earned first-team All-SEC honors, but Arkansas suffered a major blow in the preseason when running back Knile Davis broke his ankle and the team eventually fell short of Petrino’s championship goals.

Still, the Razorbacks were ranked as high as No. 3 late in the season, their only losses were to the two teams playing for the BCS national championship — LSU and Alabama.

Arkansas finished the regular season 10-2, winning at least 10 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 198889 and reached the Cotton Bowl, where the Razorbacks will face Kansas State on Jan. 6.

The Razorbacks weren’t the only FBS program in Arkansas to make headlines in 2011.

Arkansas State opened the season with high, yet cautious, expectations under first-year coach Hugh Freeze.

Led by Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Ryan Aplin at quarterback, Arkansas State (10-2) had its first 10-win season since 1986, when it

was a member of the I-AA Southland Conference.

The Red Wolves were undefeated in the Sun Belt and will play Northern Illinois in the GoDaddy. com Bowl on Jan. 8.

For all of Arkansas State’s on-field success, however, the school made more news off the field following the regular season.

First, Freeze left after one season to take over at Mississippi — taking much of the Red Wolves’ excitement with him.

Any despair or frustration with Freeze’s sudden departure was quickly forgotten less than two weeks later when Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn was hired as ASU’s new coach.

Malzahn, who helped guide the Tigers to the BCS national championship last season, cut his coaching teeth as a high school coach for 14 seasons in Arkansas.

Malzahn then began his college coaching career at Arkansas, with a stop at Tulsa before landing with Auburn. His name had been linked with several top jobs over the past two years, including Vanderbilt, Maryland, North Carolina and Kansas.

However, it was the open job in his home state that Malzahn eventually accepted — providing a hiring coup of sorts and more time in the national spotlight for Arkansas State.

“This is where I learned football, from Arkansas high school coaches,” Malzahn said. “I’m not a normal college coach as far as the progression goes.

So, I’ve always looked for the right place at the right time. Guess what? This is the right place and the right time.”

At Oaklawn Park, Arkansas native and trainer Jinks Fires won his first Grade 1 victory when Archarcharch used an overpowering final kick to win the $1 million Arkansas Derby.

The colt went off at 25-1 after a third-place finish at the Rebel Stakes and was ridden by Jon Court. He was owned by another Arkansas native, Bob Yagos, and the win booked the first trip to the Kentucky Derby for both Fires and Yagos.

In high school football, Fayetteville dethroned Bentonville and its 25game winning streak to win the Class 7A state championship. The championship was the second since 2007 for the Bulldogs, who narrowly finished atop the Arkansas Associated Press poll ahead of Class 4A champion Pulaski Academy.

Associated Press

Kentucky head coach John Calipari, above, and Louisville coach Rick Pitino, below, have kept their tradition-proud programs at the top of college basketball. The two state rivals meet again today ranked No. 3 and No. 4 in the Associated Press basketball polls, respectively.

Kentucky rivals meet again with top rankings

BY COLIN FLY Associated Press

LEXINGTON — Kentucky coach John Calipari began a list when he was asked whether he and Louisville coach Rick Pitino are too much alike to get along.

“Similarities?

We’ve both taken three teams to the Final Four, we both got fired in the NBA and we’re Italians with big noses,” Calipari said Friday. “I respect what he’s done, respect the program, respect the city and the school.”

No. 3 Kentucky (121) and No. 4 Louisville (12-1) renew their rivalry in the most anticipated yearly game in the Commonwealth on Saturday at Rupp Arena, where even the smallest details are scrutinized.

So when a video came out this month showing Calipari and Pitino chatting at a high school game in Mount Washington, Ky., there was an abundance of speculation about just what the two coaches discussed.

“We don’t send Christmas cards, but we’re cordial to each other,” Calipari said. “I went up to him, talked to him, told him he’s doing a fabulous job with his team, the way they’re playing, blah, blah, blah. And he said, ‘Your team’s really good and dah, dah, dah.’ OK?

WFA: Women’s league schedules season opener on April 21 CONTINUED FROM 1B

couple weeks later, got a call and made the team. It was the longest two weeks of my life.”

Searcy native and 20-year-old Destinee Pratt heard about the team through Dennler, and immediately jumped on board.

“I’ve always had an interest in it,” she said.

“Both my brothers played football and it’s always something I’ve wanted to do. Jen told me about the team and I rode with her to tryouts and said, ‘Lets do it.’”

Although neither Dennler nor Pratt have played a regular-season game yet, both participate in practices in Little Rock and are anxious to get the season underway in April.

“We play at Little Rock Central High School,

which is pretty much the football Mecca here in the state,” Dennler said. “Last year, the girls would have to drive themselves to outof-state games, but that’s not the case anymore thanks to the new owners.”

Instead of driving in separate cars to games in cities like Memphis, Austin, New Orleans and Tulsa, owner David Jones has set up a team bus for the women to ride in. Although the players have to pay $250 each year for insurance, uniforms and equipment, Dennler said the team receives many donations to keep the spending in check.

“I’m stoked to get out there and play,” Dennler said. “This has been my little dream. Little boys want to play for the Cowboys, but little girls on the tomboy side couldn’t have

a dream like that. Now, I have a chance to live my dream and teach my 5-year-old daughter no dream is too big.”

Pratt said the future games bring a range of emotions, but the biggest one is excitement.

“I’m really excited and pumped about it,” she said. “I’m nervous a little bit, but that will go away in the game. It’s nice to get to meet new people and have a team dedicated to playing good football.”

Pratt, at only 20 years old, is one of the youngest women on the squad, but her age doesn’t phase her.

“It’s all about showing your best and coming out to play and win,” she said.

“I’m little, but I’m tough. I can hold my own.”

Brittany Reinbolt, a Searcy graduate, is the third White County woman to earn a spot on the

squad.

“Brittany is a beast,” Dennler said. “As far as talent goes, the sky is the limit for her.”

Another connection to White County may be found in Head Coach Mace Thomas, who graduated from Harding University in 2004.

“I’ve always loved football, and since I’m not playing, I’m always looking for avenues to get back in,” he said. “The girls came to me with the idea to help the Wildcats, and it’s a blessing to get to work with the different women on the team. Not a lot of women can do what they’re doing, so watching the progression gives me a great feeling.”

According to wfafootball.com, the Wildcats will open regular-season play the weekend of April 21, when they host Memphis.

“He said ‘I hope we beat you’ and I said ‘I hope we beat you’ and I went and got a Diet Coke. That was about it. I don’t know what to tell you.”

The rivalry is as much about the two rabid fan bases as it is the players.

Between the two schools, 13 players have never participated in a Kentucky-Louisville game. This time, the schools have the highest combined ranking in series history. But Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis said he’s recognized the passion simply by the amount of tweets he’s received from fans about beating Louisville.

“We guess it’s a big deal for them,” Davis said.

Davis hears even more back and forth about what fans think of the respective leaders of the program. “(They think) that they hate each other. One always goes out and parties when the other one loses,” Davis said. “They look alike, but coach Pitino, I’ve never seen him coach so I can’t say how they remind me of each other.”

Only one side will have a reason to celebrate on Saturday night even though Calipari insisted he has no ill-feelings toward Pitino, saying any perceived friction comes from proximity.

“It’s two different programs and two different leagues. We’re not really recruiting against each other. It’s just this one time and our fans are going to be happy or their fans are going to be happy, and that’s it,” Calipari said. “As far as our team, I’m telling you we respect them. Our players do not have animosity or hatred.”

Louisville has been quiet since its 20-game home winning streak was snapped in a 71-68 loss to No. 12 Georgetown on Wednesday night. The Cardinals did not have any media availability ahead of this game and have lost the last two in the series.

“I think Kentucky is the better basketball team right now,” Pitino said after the loss to the Hoyas.

“Running up and down and trying to outscore Kentucky would be a futile attempt to try to get a ‘W’.”

Kentucky is led by Doron Lamb, averaging 15.8 points, and Michael KiddGilchrist, who is chipping in 13.5 points. Davis is averaging a double-double with 11.6 points and 10.2 rebounds.

“We know they’re just as athletic, we know they’re a good team, too,” Kentucky senior Darius Miller said. “We can’t come in thinking that we’re more athletic or we’re the better team. We’ve got to come in and play.”

Louisville guard Chris Smith measured it in NBA talent.

“Every guy on their team is, I guess, a pro,” Smith said. “A win Saturday would come back and erase the sting, but at the same time we’re 0-1 in the Big East. We just have to keep our composure and win the game on Saturday.”

It certainly won’t be easy. Kentucky has the nation’s longest winning streak at 43 games and hasn’t lost since Calipari came to Lexington in 2009.

“It’s a very hard place to play,” said Louisville forward Kyle Kuric, who is averaging 13.5 points. “I’ll just leave it at that.”

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